What do you think?
Rate this book
Twisted Kingdom #1
Dirty Lovely Broken
Peace comes at a price only one woman can pay.
Jude Camden slaughtered thousands of her soldiers. He executed her brother in front of her. And he was only willing to accept an end to the war—harmony across the planet Syrus—on one condition…
Taken by the infamous Camden princes—Jude, Orlann, and Malac—Maari Delayne must cement a fragile planetary peace by merging two rival bloodlines. The Camdens are powerful, insatiable, and remorseless. They are as irresistible as they are infuriating, ruthlessly wringing pleasure from their captive night after night.
Yet Maari is far from helpless in their grasp. She has a gift that will let her deny the brothers what they need most from her—as long as she doesn’t let any of them into her heart...
Please note: This is NOT at ALL like my other series. This is a messy, angsty, dirty reverse harem sci-fi fairy tale arcing over the course of three books. The HEA won’t come until book three. If you have triggers, do not read this book. If you’re still with me...welcome to the Twisted Kingdom!
Jude Camden slaughtered thousands of her soldiers. He executed her brother in front of her. And he was only willing to accept an end to the war—harmony across the planet Syrus—on one condition…
Taken by the infamous Camden princes—Jude, Orlann, and Malac—Maari Delayne must cement a fragile planetary peace by merging two rival bloodlines. The Camdens are powerful, insatiable, and remorseless. They are as irresistible as they are infuriating, ruthlessly wringing pleasure from their captive night after night.
Yet Maari is far from helpless in their grasp. She has a gift that will let her deny the brothers what they need most from her—as long as she doesn’t let any of them into her heart...
Please note: This is NOT at ALL like my other series. This is a messy, angsty, dirty reverse harem sci-fi fairy tale arcing over the course of three books. The HEA won’t come until book three. If you have triggers, do not read this book. If you’re still with me...welcome to the Twisted Kingdom!
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 30, 2019
176 people are currently reading
885 people want to read
About the author
Emmy Chandler
12 books541 followersSci-fi romance author Emmy Chandler likes tee-shirts and lattes. She firmly believes every woman deserves an arm chair in front of the window, near an outlet close enough to power a mug warmer and charge an e-reader. Her perfect afternoon includes cold weather, thick blankets, warm soup, and a good book.
Emmy has another career under another name.
ABOUT THE PRISON PLANET SERIES:
Rhodon. The Red Rock. Devil’s Eye.
Whatever you want to call it, Universal Authority’s most profitable prison planet is home to more than four million criminals. Convicted murderers await execution. Everyone else gets life—and eventually death—in the open population.
With no guards on the ground and no way off the planet, it’s every inmate for him- or herself…
Emmy has another career under another name.
ABOUT THE PRISON PLANET SERIES:
Rhodon. The Red Rock. Devil’s Eye.
Whatever you want to call it, Universal Authority’s most profitable prison planet is home to more than four million criminals. Convicted murderers await execution. Everyone else gets life—and eventually death—in the open population.
With no guards on the ground and no way off the planet, it’s every inmate for him- or herself…
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews
October 19, 2022
Excellent! Love the prose style. Good erotica but also works well for the plot.
Review to come!!
Quick Update: This is an unfinished series. I don't start unfinished series but did not do enough vetting. The series is actually pretty good, especially the second instalment, so I am bummed out that it appears we will not get the third and final story.
Some more thoughts:
I almost don’t want to leave a review because it’s not a finished series but I will say this. Excellent blend of medieval politicking and science fiction technology. The erotica is fine. It was explicit and descriptive, but I think I was much more interested in the conversations outside of the bedroom. This is true of the second instalment where I loved how they talked about the politics.
I will also say the heroine made me eye-roll a few times. She was sometimes a Mary Sue but in the second instalment, the author did convince me of her realness as a character. Here, it just seems she’s acting TSTL by making all these dumb arguments. Dumb meaning she really thinks she’s going to be let off just by reasoning with the brothers?
Review to come!!
Quick Update: This is an unfinished series. I don't start unfinished series but did not do enough vetting. The series is actually pretty good, especially the second instalment, so I am bummed out that it appears we will not get the third and final story.
Some more thoughts:
I almost don’t want to leave a review because it’s not a finished series but I will say this. Excellent blend of medieval politicking and science fiction technology. The erotica is fine. It was explicit and descriptive, but I think I was much more interested in the conversations outside of the bedroom. This is true of the second instalment where I loved how they talked about the politics.
I will also say the heroine made me eye-roll a few times. She was sometimes a Mary Sue but in the second instalment, the author did convince me of her realness as a character. Here, it just seems she’s acting TSTL by making all these dumb arguments. Dumb meaning she really thinks she’s going to be let off just by reasoning with the brothers?
![Profile Image for Namera [The Literary Invertebrate].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1647896333i%2F31792110._UX200_CR0%2C96%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
March 5, 2020
I am STUNNED at how good this book was.
Really, truly stunned. I've had it on my TBR for a while now but kept putting it off because I figured there was no way it could be as good as it sounded. But then I bit the bullet and actually read it. I devoured both this book and its sequel in a single day, and I'm living on tenterhooks until the last book comes out.
I think of this as the book Addison Cain's Wren's Song series wanted to be, before it devolved into total erotic horror rather than romance.
The Boxes it Ticked for Me:
✔️ Reverse harem with actual differences between the heroes. There are three: King Jude Camden, his younger brother Prince Orlann, and their younger bastard half-brother Malach. Princess Maari is given to them as a concubine because her brother assassinated their father, and all three brothers will be doing their best to get her pregnant. Their personalities are very clearly defined - they weren't just copies of the same person. It was glorious to read. Also, they're all slightly evil. They're sort of like sci-fi, slightly less insane versions of Domenico from The Silver Devil.
✔️ Great prose style. Chandler had no grammatical mistakes, didn't misuse her punctuation or tenses, absolutely nothing jarring. I can't even begin to express what a relief that was.
✔️ SCORCHING sex scenes. There are a lot of those, because this is erotica, but they were all sooooo well-written and different and brought so much to the story that I didn't skip a single one. SO. GOOD. Lots of dubcon.
✔️ Safety gang notice: one of the heroes, Jude, is married, and has two children with his wife. So the heroine is very much the OW. You know I usually have a low tolerance level for anything that messes with the hero's devotion to the heroine, but I was actually 95% fine with this plot development for a number of reasons. 1) Jude's marriage was an arranged one. He doesn't love his wife, and he never promised to be faithful to her. 2) He stops having sex with his wife when Maari appears in his life. This is made clear, and further impregnation of the wife to get an heir is done through IVF. 3) Jude is actually perhaps the hero MOST obsessed with the heroine - he spends hours watching her through the cameras - and this soothed my soul. Also, a part of me does sometimes enjoy reading stories where the heroine is the OW for the married hero, if the circumstances are right (i.e. there's no attachment to the wife).
✔️ An actual plot which emerged in between the sex scenes.
The only negative comment I have is that there wasn't much worldbuilding done. We know these people live on the Planet Syrus, and they're all royal because they're from Founding Families. But I couldn't tell if this was AU, futuristic, or what. Like what happened to Earth???
But anyway, this book has squeezed one of my insanely rare 5-star ratings out of me. If the safety gang notice didn't put you off, I can't recommend this book enough.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
Really, truly stunned. I've had it on my TBR for a while now but kept putting it off because I figured there was no way it could be as good as it sounded. But then I bit the bullet and actually read it. I devoured both this book and its sequel in a single day, and I'm living on tenterhooks until the last book comes out.
I think of this as the book Addison Cain's Wren's Song series wanted to be, before it devolved into total erotic horror rather than romance.
The Boxes it Ticked for Me:
✔️ Reverse harem with actual differences between the heroes. There are three: King Jude Camden, his younger brother Prince Orlann, and their younger bastard half-brother Malach. Princess Maari is given to them as a concubine because her brother assassinated their father, and all three brothers will be doing their best to get her pregnant. Their personalities are very clearly defined - they weren't just copies of the same person. It was glorious to read. Also, they're all slightly evil. They're sort of like sci-fi, slightly less insane versions of Domenico from The Silver Devil.
✔️ Great prose style. Chandler had no grammatical mistakes, didn't misuse her punctuation or tenses, absolutely nothing jarring. I can't even begin to express what a relief that was.
✔️ SCORCHING sex scenes. There are a lot of those, because this is erotica, but they were all sooooo well-written and different and brought so much to the story that I didn't skip a single one. SO. GOOD. Lots of dubcon.
✔️ Safety gang notice: one of the heroes, Jude, is married, and has two children with his wife. So the heroine is very much the OW. You know I usually have a low tolerance level for anything that messes with the hero's devotion to the heroine, but I was actually 95% fine with this plot development for a number of reasons. 1) Jude's marriage was an arranged one. He doesn't love his wife, and he never promised to be faithful to her. 2) He stops having sex with his wife when Maari appears in his life. This is made clear, and further impregnation of the wife to get an heir is done through IVF. 3) Jude is actually perhaps the hero MOST obsessed with the heroine - he spends hours watching her through the cameras - and this soothed my soul. Also, a part of me does sometimes enjoy reading stories where the heroine is the OW for the married hero, if the circumstances are right (i.e. there's no attachment to the wife).
✔️ An actual plot which emerged in between the sex scenes.
The only negative comment I have is that there wasn't much worldbuilding done. We know these people live on the Planet Syrus, and they're all royal because they're from Founding Families. But I couldn't tell if this was AU, futuristic, or what. Like what happened to Earth???
But anyway, this book has squeezed one of my insanely rare 5-star ratings out of me. If the safety gang notice didn't put you off, I can't recommend this book enough.
[Blog] - [Bookstagram]
August 8, 2019
Hated it. This is a collection of rape scenes, humiliations and subjugation to be suffered by the heroine, Maari, who has been served up as a war prize and condemned to a lifetime of sexual servitude as the Camden brothers' broodmare. It's made worse by the fact that Maari as no say, no control over anything, even her libido, because due to witchcraft, the Camdens' bite makes her desire them. Every man in this story is despicable, from the Camdens and the Delaynes to the Council who make Maari part of their "peace offering."
October 20, 2019
About 90 % of Dirty Lovely Broken made me uncomfortable or disgusted. I get the appeal of dubious consent but this wasn't it... This book had tried to vindicate rapists in form of "the bite made her want it", while implying that the bite was not all to it, that heroine's no would actually mean yes even without it.
Yes, feeling all this and risking to become a hypocrite, I couldn't stop reading it and—Oh, god, I'm making it even worse now.—I most likely (after I cool down) will read the next installment as well...
Why, you asking? Because I want to see those low-lives grovel, suffer and atone.
Yes, feeling all this and risking to become a hypocrite, I couldn't stop reading it and—Oh, god, I'm making it even worse now.—I most likely (after I cool down) will read the next installment as well...
Why, you asking? Because I want to see those low-lives grovel, suffer and atone.
May 9, 2020
NO! HATED this book!
Started to read this and it has cheating, non-consent. Cheating is a major no for me and J. The cheater is married with small children. 3 brothers, 1 married all force Maari is a Hardcore NO! Will not finish due to this issue. Why others would give this more than 1 star is okay with cheating non-consent are seriously disturbed. That they are purposely forcing her to get pregnant to shame her? What the hell? Seriously sick and twisted and wrong. Why would you purposely get her pregnant with your own child? What purpose is that? There is NO way that they value lives if this is their sole intent. Nowhere in the description does it state that there is cheating and cheating to this extent is vile and downright inhuman, NOT okay at all!!
Started to read this and it has cheating, non-consent. Cheating is a major no for me and J. The cheater is married with small children. 3 brothers, 1 married all force Maari is a Hardcore NO! Will not finish due to this issue. Why others would give this more than 1 star is okay with cheating non-consent are seriously disturbed. That they are purposely forcing her to get pregnant to shame her? What the hell? Seriously sick and twisted and wrong. Why would you purposely get her pregnant with your own child? What purpose is that? There is NO way that they value lives if this is their sole intent. Nowhere in the description does it state that there is cheating and cheating to this extent is vile and downright inhuman, NOT okay at all!!
April 28, 2024
This wasn't my cup of tea, but it will definitely be others - I don't think I was in the right mindset to fully appreciate this. All the 1 star reviews for this book will be why others like this, the warnings are true. Dark, dirty, twisted reverse harem with an emphasis on degradation and humiliation. Dubcon/noncon. Breeding kink but the heroine doesn't get pregnant in book 1.
It's well-written, I enjoyed the MMC's dialogue. They're often cruel to the heroine, but obsessed. If I had read this in the middle of my omegaverse/bdsm reading phase I may have rated this 4 stars. I'm left wanting to know more about the world, wishing there was more plot than the heroine getting violated in various ways. By the end I was skimming.
2.75-3 stars
It's well-written, I enjoyed the MMC's dialogue. They're often cruel to the heroine, but obsessed. If I had read this in the middle of my omegaverse/bdsm reading phase I may have rated this 4 stars. I'm left wanting to know more about the world, wishing there was more plot than the heroine getting violated in various ways. By the end I was skimming.
2.75-3 stars
April 18, 2021
Zero stars.
This book is about repeated rape. I'll save you the trouble of the author's failure of trigger warnings and just state it clearly. Constant, lovingly written RAPE. It's fucking disgusting that this was published at all.
Maari is a prisoner of three men who repeatedly rape, emotionally abuse, and manipulate her. BUT, they have magic to make her body enjoy the abuse, so it's ok, right? Nah, it's repugnant. They also want to impregnate her and are working hard to do so.
The rape scenes are all written in extreme detail. We get to sit in Maari's head so the reader can hate themelves as much as Maari does. The men talk sweetly to her while she's raped and Maari hates herself for feeling the pleasure they've forced on her through magic. We hate everyone, too.
They've also alienated her from her home so completely that she has nowhere to go. Her captor has threatened to kill millions of people just to keep her captive as an unwilling sex servant and incubator.
Oh, but Maari has one bit of power and that is to magically stop ovulating when she wants to with LOVE being the exception. See where this is going? Maari will likely fall in love with at least one of her rapists and have all their babies.
The only acceptable end to this disgusting mess is if Maari kills them all. Anything else is patriarchal sickness. There is no HEA possible here beyond death to her rapists. The men are COMPLETELY IRREDEEMABLE.
Was this written by a man? I cannot understand how a woman could write a book that attempts to make the heroine feel anything beyond blinding rage and hate for her RAPISTS. To think of young women reading this book makes me sick. I cannot say enough about how fucked up this story and its execution is.
This book is about repeated rape. I'll save you the trouble of the author's failure of trigger warnings and just state it clearly. Constant, lovingly written RAPE. It's fucking disgusting that this was published at all.
Maari is a prisoner of three men who repeatedly rape, emotionally abuse, and manipulate her. BUT, they have magic to make her body enjoy the abuse, so it's ok, right? Nah, it's repugnant. They also want to impregnate her and are working hard to do so.
The rape scenes are all written in extreme detail. We get to sit in Maari's head so the reader can hate themelves as much as Maari does. The men talk sweetly to her while she's raped and Maari hates herself for feeling the pleasure they've forced on her through magic. We hate everyone, too.
They've also alienated her from her home so completely that she has nowhere to go. Her captor has threatened to kill millions of people just to keep her captive as an unwilling sex servant and incubator.
Oh, but Maari has one bit of power and that is to magically stop ovulating when she wants to with LOVE being the exception. See where this is going? Maari will likely fall in love with at least one of her rapists and have all their babies.
The only acceptable end to this disgusting mess is if Maari kills them all. Anything else is patriarchal sickness. There is no HEA possible here beyond death to her rapists. The men are COMPLETELY IRREDEEMABLE.
Was this written by a man? I cannot understand how a woman could write a book that attempts to make the heroine feel anything beyond blinding rage and hate for her RAPISTS. To think of young women reading this book makes me sick. I cannot say enough about how fucked up this story and its execution is.
July 29, 2019
Ughhh! WTF did I just read. It seriously checked off boxes on my “hate to read” list...BUT I couldn’t stop reading.
The Camden Brothers are horrible.
I’m rooting for Maari! I do not want her to give in. This asshats don’t deserve her.
I’m hooked..I need the next book like yesterday.
This is not for the faint of heart...heed the warnings unless you love the dark.😈
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~ appealing
Series~ Twisted Kingdome Series
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
The Camden Brothers are horrible.
I’m rooting for Maari! I do not want her to give in. This asshats don’t deserve her.
I’m hooked..I need the next book like yesterday.
This is not for the faint of heart...heed the warnings unless you love the dark.😈
~BREAKDOWN OF RATINGS~
Plot~ 4/5
Main Characters (hero/heroine)~ 4/5
Secondary Characters~ 4/5
The Feels~ 4/5
Pacing~ 4/5
Addictiveness~4/5
Angst~ 4/5
Steam/Hotness/Chemisty ~ 4/5
Theme or Tone~ 4/5
Flow (Writing Style)~ 4/5
Backdrop (World Building)~ 4/5
Originality~ 4/5
Ending~ 4/5
Book Cover~ appealing
Series~ Twisted Kingdome Series
Source~ Kindle eBook - ARC for honest review
Would I read more from the author? Yes
Would I recommend this book? Yes
September 26, 2020
"5 ***** Because you are mine Stars"
I am usually not a Scifi reader and this is my first book by Emmy Chandler but boy was I blown away with this one. Dirty Lovely Broken had nearly all the elements I love in a book. A well rounded engaging plot that kept me intrigued and guessing. Well developed characters with different personalities and I really like the heroine Maari. She was easy to empathize and relate to considering the situation she was in.
As part of a peace treaty, Maari who is a princess of Stead Delayne is given to Jude, the King of Stead Camden as a concubine to be used and bred by the king & his brothers. I didn't read too many reviews on this book and I'm glad that I did as it took me by surprise as how well written this was, specially for a Reverse Harem.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who like me loves a good book which gives you all the feels.
I am usually not a Scifi reader and this is my first book by Emmy Chandler but boy was I blown away with this one. Dirty Lovely Broken had nearly all the elements I love in a book. A well rounded engaging plot that kept me intrigued and guessing. Well developed characters with different personalities and I really like the heroine Maari. She was easy to empathize and relate to considering the situation she was in.
As part of a peace treaty, Maari who is a princess of Stead Delayne is given to Jude, the King of Stead Camden as a concubine to be used and bred by the king & his brothers. I didn't read too many reviews on this book and I'm glad that I did as it took me by surprise as how well written this was, specially for a Reverse Harem.
Highly recommend this book for anyone who like me loves a good book which gives you all the feels.
September 25, 2019
Ok... I just devoured this book.
It was dark and dirty. And I was uncomfortable with certain aspects but I knew it was going to be that way. I didn't really LIKE any of the brothers but I loved Maari. The whole story was different and there was a lot of conflict. I was conflicted and I didn't know which "side" I was on or what way the story should go. So yeah, it was interesting and entertaining. Cliffhanger ending... but I will wait. It's that good.
It was dark and dirty. And I was uncomfortable with certain aspects but I knew it was going to be that way. I didn't really LIKE any of the brothers but I loved Maari. The whole story was different and there was a lot of conflict. I was conflicted and I didn't know which "side" I was on or what way the story should go. So yeah, it was interesting and entertaining. Cliffhanger ending... but I will wait. It's that good.
December 18, 2022
Why was this so good when it can't even be called a romance?
And when I don't even like RH that much.
Also, when the author is MIA and the series is incomplete for years now.
Although, when I think about it, the fact that I have exams in literally D-2 days added to the taboo experience and enhanced the reading pleasure. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ just saying
And when I don't even like RH that much.
Also, when the author is MIA and the series is incomplete for years now.
Although, when I think about it, the fact that I have exams in literally D-2 days added to the taboo experience and enhanced the reading pleasure. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ just saying
September 3, 2024
Trainwreck? More like a nuclear accident
This was insane! The 3 MMCs are rabid nutjobs with zero self-awareness and the FMC is just hanging in there
The heroine is not just the punching bag sex toy for these creeps, she also has to deal with an angry bitter OW
This was also 110% porn with very little, if any, plot. Sure there is something being set up in the background, but the author dropped this book and the sequel like a bomb on us and then vanished cackling into the night without ever releasing the finale of the trilogy, which is crazy!! And it must have taken guts tbh
Obviously the happy end I am looking for is with the heroine murdering absolutely everyone around her, and moving to a nice farm by the sea because she had enough drama and bullshit to last her ten lifetimes
This was insane! The 3 MMCs are rabid nutjobs with zero self-awareness and the FMC is just hanging in there
The heroine is not just the punching bag sex toy for these creeps, she also has to deal with an angry bitter OW
This was also 110% porn with very little, if any, plot. Sure there is something being set up in the background, but the author dropped this book and the sequel like a bomb on us and then vanished cackling into the night without ever releasing the finale of the trilogy, which is crazy!! And it must have taken guts tbh
Obviously the happy end I am looking for is with the heroine murdering absolutely everyone around her, and moving to a nice farm by the sea because she had enough drama and bullshit to last her ten lifetimes
April 29, 2022
I have been mostly reading books that fall into the “villain hero” category, which can lead you some strange places, like to a reverse harem book featuring non-consent and abuse. This book certainly fits into the villain hero(s) category given those plot points (non-consent is “softened” by some magic that makes the heroine physically turned on when the love interests are near). This book also falls more into the erotica category, and I’m usually not into erotica. Still I kinda liked it? I read the second and would like to see what happens in the third should it ever come out. I’m not ready to psychoanalyze what this means about me and/or to wrestle with the question of whether I *should* read such books today. 3 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
did-not-finish
July 14, 2024 DNF @ 20%
The writing isn't awful, but I found out that this trilogy remains unfinished, and I'm not sure if the author will ever complete it. I don’t want to commit to a series that's still incomplete. Plus, I’ve lost interest in reading a reverse harem book at the moment.
The writing isn't awful, but I found out that this trilogy remains unfinished, and I'm not sure if the author will ever complete it. I don’t want to commit to a series that's still incomplete. Plus, I’ve lost interest in reading a reverse harem book at the moment.
September 16, 2021
I don’t think I’ve been an confused as I was by this book for a long time. I went it expecting to love it as it was a 5 star rating from my favourite book reviewer only to be extremely disappointed. There is no world building AT ALL. I’m half way through book 2 and I still don’t understand why the two kingdoms hate each other, it was never explained, just said that they’re at war.
The most important point being, this book is full of rape and it’s sickening. I’ve had some dark romance books and it was on various degrees of success however this one is just not it. The princess repeatedly gets raped and forced into sex however because of their magic bite she starts begging for it during their sex scenes and it just put me off. I kept wondering what was making me feel uncomfortable but by book 2 I realized that it was the extreme change in the her personality where she hates them but the second they start forcing her she’s begging for an orgasm. This has to be the weirdest book I’ve ever read.
The most important point being, this book is full of rape and it’s sickening. I’ve had some dark romance books and it was on various degrees of success however this one is just not it. The princess repeatedly gets raped and forced into sex however because of their magic bite she starts begging for it during their sex scenes and it just put me off. I kept wondering what was making me feel uncomfortable but by book 2 I realized that it was the extreme change in the her personality where she hates them but the second they start forcing her she’s begging for an orgasm. This has to be the weirdest book I’ve ever read.
November 24, 2020
Ugh. No. DNF.
I got to the 17% mark and had to stop. Books like this give bad people even worse ideas. Kinda gross and all kinds of wrong.
Unless sexual abuse (read: rape) is your thing- trust to the other 1 star reviews and avoid this disturbing mess.
I got to the 17% mark and had to stop. Books like this give bad people even worse ideas. Kinda gross and all kinds of wrong.
Unless sexual abuse (read: rape) is your thing- trust to the other 1 star reviews and avoid this disturbing mess.
August 6, 2019
This was my first book by Emmy Candler and what an awesome intro to this author's work (though I realize that this book is a departure for Ms. Chandler's usual style)! I adored Maari. What a strong and feisty heroine she turned out to be in the face of the challenges she was presented with. I loved the way that the author showed her vulnerability while not taking away from her strength. I loved the male characters as well but in an entirely different way. As opposed to many readers who were partial to Maalec, I have a soft spot for Jude. He is in the most morally ambiguous and difficult situation and I could really feel his struggle when it came to his feeling for Maari. Now Orlaan is still a bit of a closed book. It's interesting that the author doesn't give him a voce in this book and I do hope that we hear from him in the upcoming installments. I would be remiss mot to mention the heat and sizzle that permeates this book's pages. I can't wait for the next book in the series!
August 7, 2019
Dark, very dark. The story is mesmerizing in its message. A princess who is sent into a world so unimaginably cruel given her upbringing that it's a wonder she didn't just lose her mind after so many blows to her self worth. Does she plot revenge or does she collapse under the cruelty? I can't see a HEA even happening - not ever - even though the author says to hang in there, it will come - eventually. It's hard to imagine just how much she has to suffer before that might happen. At this point she is still clueless to at least one surprise awaiting her which the reader has become privy to and I can't wait until that bombshell is dropped. So many great things in this book - the writing, the characters, the storyline. Yet its a dark read that is difficult to read at times. I like my female characters to be strong but how can she not break? I can't wait for the next book. I want justice! Hmmm...three heads for the price of one anyone?
July 29, 2019
I am in Maari corner!
I just finished the first book in the series and I know what I am going to say may not be what some people want to hear, but I hope that she does not give in. Maari has every right to hate these jerks and she may have to give her body and take their abuse, but she does not have to come to care for them. That said it was a good story and I will continue to read the series and enjoy what the author writes. You will like this one if you are into RH’s not that I really see this as an RH more like Maari is the spoils of war and if she does not do what she is told it could mean the death of millions. Yes, I want her to have a happy ending just not the jerks. I am giving this one a 5-star because I am already invested in the story. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
I just finished the first book in the series and I know what I am going to say may not be what some people want to hear, but I hope that she does not give in. Maari has every right to hate these jerks and she may have to give her body and take their abuse, but she does not have to come to care for them. That said it was a good story and I will continue to read the series and enjoy what the author writes. You will like this one if you are into RH’s not that I really see this as an RH more like Maari is the spoils of war and if she does not do what she is told it could mean the death of millions. Yes, I want her to have a happy ending just not the jerks. I am giving this one a 5-star because I am already invested in the story. I did receive a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review it.
July 30, 2019
I was skeptical when I first got this book. We were given so little details. Dang this book was definitely dark. I’m still thinking about it, although I just finished the book. I was expecting something cliche. I’m pleasantly surprised by it all. It was fantastic the intrigue, angst and deviousness of it. I must give it to the author she outdid herself. I LOVED it! It had me going and I could never calm down because another layer just kept getting added to what I was already feeling. I’m completely wrung out emotionally. I read this in one sitting. If you can’t handle dark don’t picked this up. I on the other hand LOVED IT! I am rooting for Maari to not give in. I want her to be the last one standing. I can’t wait for the story to continue. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND!
July 30, 2019
More please!!!
Maari is your well loved princess, who is been sheltered and loved by her family all her life till...
She did surprise me by the way she responded to her situation.
This book is entirely different if I usually aim for reading, but let me confirm here that Emmily’s writing never disappoints!
Highly recommend⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh and the anticipation for the next book is out of this world!!
Maari is your well loved princess, who is been sheltered and loved by her family all her life till...
She did surprise me by the way she responded to her situation.
This book is entirely different if I usually aim for reading, but let me confirm here that Emmily’s writing never disappoints!
Highly recommend⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh and the anticipation for the next book is out of this world!!
Read
November 19, 2019Imagine if someone tried to take Sansa's wedding night, added two more psychos, and then insert "magic" to make it seem like she is turned on by what's happening to her.
Like real talk this book seems like it was written by an especially misogynist incel who's never actually encountered a woman in his life.
Like real talk this book seems like it was written by an especially misogynist incel who's never actually encountered a woman in his life.
March 2, 2021
Kindle Unlimited.
Oh my god, that was DARK. I don't know how it got on my Kindle Unlimited list of TBR. I kept waiting for some relief, some redemption...ANYTHING, but no. The story just ends. JUST ENDS.
I wouldn't recommend doing this to yourself unless you are in the mood for some VERY dark steam.
Oh my god, that was DARK. I don't know how it got on my Kindle Unlimited list of TBR. I kept waiting for some relief, some redemption...ANYTHING, but no. The story just ends. JUST ENDS.
I wouldn't recommend doing this to yourself unless you are in the mood for some VERY dark steam.
July 20, 2021
OK, well this definitively not for everybody. It's a new level of dark. Maari is a princess given to the enemy of her country to cement the peace. She must become the concubine of the king and his 2 brothers.
I loved Maari and her journey. She is strong (not one of those useless MC that is totally in love with her abductors). She fights them constantly. I love the fact that the men think they are in charge but by falling in love with her, she becomes stronger then them.
Before reading this book, you need to really understand that the 3 men are Assholes ... really huge assholes so you will not be loving them. This is not a romance ... the MC is a prize of war.
This is different from anything I read so far. I honestly liked it even if I skipped some scenes that I found a little too hard for me.
I loved Maari and her journey. She is strong (not one of those useless MC that is totally in love with her abductors). She fights them constantly. I love the fact that the men think they are in charge but by falling in love with her, she becomes stronger then them.
Before reading this book, you need to really understand that the 3 men are Assholes ... really huge assholes so you will not be loving them. This is not a romance ... the MC is a prize of war.
This is different from anything I read so far. I honestly liked it even if I skipped some scenes that I found a little too hard for me.
February 27, 2020
To describe this romance as dark is like saying hell's just a part of heaven
And yet... it's beautiful. Hauntingly so. I devoured this book. I did. I forgot about everything and everyone while reading it. No more job, no more chores, the freaking dinner got burned... because how could one care about those when this book was waiting?
And it happens rarely nowadays... for a book to grip me so in its wonderful clutches. I've been a reader most of my life. Devoured books in all genres. And Just as the other 'veterans' like me, I'm picky. I'm hardly surprised, and difficult to please. But this... wow!
See? I can barely articulate my thoughts!
My temporary inability causes me to do this work a great injustice: comprise it in a single sentence. As such, in my opinion:
Dirty Lovely Broken is the perfect embodiment of a love-hate relationship.
Because I empathized with Maari, but hated her naivete, and her plain stupidity at times. I get Jude (in a way), even as I hate him with all the fiber of my being. Orlann... I didn't fully understand, yet. And Malac... okay, Malac I mostly loved, and not because he hurt her the less, but because I saw him as the most complex (and I'm a sucker for tortured souls).
All in all: I LOVED it! If I could've given this book more than the meager five stars, I would've.
And yet... it's beautiful. Hauntingly so. I devoured this book. I did. I forgot about everything and everyone while reading it. No more job, no more chores, the freaking dinner got burned... because how could one care about those when this book was waiting?
And it happens rarely nowadays... for a book to grip me so in its wonderful clutches. I've been a reader most of my life. Devoured books in all genres. And Just as the other 'veterans' like me, I'm picky. I'm hardly surprised, and difficult to please. But this... wow!
See? I can barely articulate my thoughts!
My temporary inability causes me to do this work a great injustice: comprise it in a single sentence. As such, in my opinion:
Dirty Lovely Broken is the perfect embodiment of a love-hate relationship.
Because I empathized with Maari, but hated her naivete, and her plain stupidity at times. I get Jude (in a way), even as I hate him with all the fiber of my being. Orlann... I didn't fully understand, yet. And Malac... okay, Malac I mostly loved, and not because he hurt her the less, but because I saw him as the most complex (and I'm a sucker for tortured souls).
All in all: I LOVED it! If I could've given this book more than the meager five stars, I would've.
July 4, 2023
This one took me by surprise
Body betrayal is a trope many romance readers despise, and with good reason. Like any trope, it can be done pretty well or extremely poorly, but it's not often done thoughtfully. This book gives its male leads the ability to inflict body betrayal on those they desire, turning it into a kind of sexual version of manifest destiny, given that the men in question are in fact rulers. More importantly, though, the author portrays how viciously cruel an experience it is for the victim. The psychological aspect isn't just brushed off like yet another magic peen story where suddenly everyone is hunky-dory. I was on the fence about reading this one based on the little I knew about the story, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It was intense and compelling with excellent palace and political intrigue in between the sometimes disturbingly hot sex scenes.
Body betrayal is a trope many romance readers despise, and with good reason. Like any trope, it can be done pretty well or extremely poorly, but it's not often done thoughtfully. This book gives its male leads the ability to inflict body betrayal on those they desire, turning it into a kind of sexual version of manifest destiny, given that the men in question are in fact rulers. More importantly, though, the author portrays how viciously cruel an experience it is for the victim. The psychological aspect isn't just brushed off like yet another magic peen story where suddenly everyone is hunky-dory. I was on the fence about reading this one based on the little I knew about the story, and I'm so glad I gave it a chance. It was intense and compelling with excellent palace and political intrigue in between the sometimes disturbingly hot sex scenes.
July 8, 2021
I wrote a review on Amazon for this book, here is what I wrote:
I'm a HEA kinda person, and I have NO CLUE how this would ever turn out that way. I read as much as I could stomach, the mortification of these men towards Maari was just more than I could take. I kept hoping and hoping and hoping I could find at least one redeemable trait in any of the men, but there was just way too much to overcome. MAYBE if I was able to read more, or if I were to read the 2nd book in the series, I would find a way to enjoy this, but I just can't keep going now. I was literally cringing the whole time I was reading this. I'm not opposed to role play or BDSM in my reading, but as for this storyline (I read about 2/3 of the book), it's just rape and abuse in my opinion.
I'm a HEA kinda person, and I have NO CLUE how this would ever turn out that way. I read as much as I could stomach, the mortification of these men towards Maari was just more than I could take. I kept hoping and hoping and hoping I could find at least one redeemable trait in any of the men, but there was just way too much to overcome. MAYBE if I was able to read more, or if I were to read the 2nd book in the series, I would find a way to enjoy this, but I just can't keep going now. I was literally cringing the whole time I was reading this. I'm not opposed to role play or BDSM in my reading, but as for this storyline (I read about 2/3 of the book), it's just rape and abuse in my opinion.
September 17, 2019
This is one of the most offensive things I’ve ever read; I abhor all the love interests and I resent the situation the heroine’s in so much I can’t physically contain the feeling...and yet I’m going to read the second book. Not because I can’t tear my eyes away from an imminent train wreck, but because I’m emotionally invested. I
want
to see this heroine come out on top. And I
want
to see these miserable swine unfit to even mingle with vermin unequivocally learn the value of women as people and her in particular, then crawl over broken glass to try to
begin
to deserve her.
I hate this but I’m addicted in the angriest way possible.
I hate this but I’m addicted in the angriest way possible.
October 31, 2019
Dark hot fairytale
I'm a fan of Emmy Chandler's Prison Planet series so I expected some noncon and dubcon elements to this series, especially after reading the reviews, so fair warning has been given. I really enjoyed the three very different brothers' approaches, Orlann and Malac in particular, especially as you were able to see what they were thinking. This really reminded me of an omegaverse novel, like the excellent Wren's Song series, even though it is not set in that world and I'd really love to see Emmy go down that route in future books. Looking forward to seeing how this story progresses with the next book.
I'm a fan of Emmy Chandler's Prison Planet series so I expected some noncon and dubcon elements to this series, especially after reading the reviews, so fair warning has been given. I really enjoyed the three very different brothers' approaches, Orlann and Malac in particular, especially as you were able to see what they were thinking. This really reminded me of an omegaverse novel, like the excellent Wren's Song series, even though it is not set in that world and I'd really love to see Emmy go down that route in future books. Looking forward to seeing how this story progresses with the next book.
November 15, 2019
Wow, wow, wow! What a book. Absolutely loved everything about it. Fair warning though, if you don't love serials or really dark stories this one is not for you. This is a first read with this author for me and I am truly hooked. The characters are dynamic, the plot is intense, and the intimate moments are off the charts h-a-w-t! Can't not wait to dive into the second one to see how everything unravels.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 99 reviews